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(No Model.)

J. F. DUHAMEL. TROUSERS STRETGHER.

No. 409,777. Patented Aug. 27, 1889.

N, Pzrzns. Phulo-Uthognphnr, Waahington, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT UrrIcE.

JAMES F. DUIIAMEL, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TRQUSERS-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,777, dated August 27, 1889.

Application filed December 13, 1888. Serial No. 293,466- (No model.)

f0 (1 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. DUHAMEL, of ashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lrousers-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trousers-stretehers; and it consists in a novel construction of the same, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved device preparatory to the insertion of the trousers, and Fig. 2 a similar view showing'the device in use.

The object of the present invention is to produce a light, cheap, simple, and efficient device, and one that shall securely hold the trousers, the weight of the latter aiding and assisting in the clamping action of the device.

A indicates the main frame, comprising two parts B and O, hinged together in such manner as to clamp the trousers between them, the whole frame being made of a sin gle piece of wire bent to proper form. The rear part B consists of two horizontal bars a a, connected at one end by an upright bar I), and provided at their opposite ends each with a coil 0, which form a spring-connection between the parts 13 and O. The part0 comprises two parallel arms (Z d, forming continuations of the coils and having their ends connected to form an arm, as at e, the twisted ends of the wire being preferably provided with a knob f, as shown.

In order to give increased strength and stiffness to the part B, the arms Ct at will advisably be connected by a link or bar g, (shown in Fig. 1,) which encircles the bars close up to the coils c c.

D indicates the bail or hanger, which is provided with an eye 7t to receive a hook or nail upon which to hang the device, the said bail or hanger being pivotally connected or hinged to the upper bar a of frame B, so as to turn thereon or relatively thereto. This bail D has one of its ends extended forward of the frames 13 C, so as to form an arm 1' to engage with the twisted ends 6 of part 0, as shown, when the bail is thrown up into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby holding the said part 0 closely down upon the trousers placed between B and C. When the trousers are placed between the parts l3 and C and the bail D turned up so as to bring its arm 2' to bear upon the outer face of frame (2, the

weight of the trousers has a tendency to straighten the parts and bring them in a direct line with the point of suspension; and as this straightening up of arm i tends to force the part 0 firmly against the part B it will be seen that the greater the weight the greater will be the clamping action of the parts 13 O.

The device A D will advisably be made of steel wire, and may be plated, japanned, or otherwise ornamented. So, too, the wire may be bent into fanciful designs without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention. I

The eye It may be omitted, if desired, its use being dependent upon the form in which the bail or hanger D is made.

The arm 2' will preferably be made with a bend or angle where it fits over and against the arm 6, so as to better retain the part 0 closed; and it will be observed that when the bail or hanger is thrown down to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the locking-arm thrown up to release the part C there is nothing to obstruct or interfere with the ready insertion. of the trousers.

The arms d cl of part 0 are curved or bowed inward slightly, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to bear throughout their length firmly against the trousers, and not to bow outward away therefrom, as is the ease with those commonly used, when the parts are clamped together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a trousers-stretcher, the combination of a clamping frame having two portions movable one in relation to the other and a bail or hangerpivotally attached to one of said portions and bearing upon the other, wherebyv the parts are pressed and held together.

2. In a device for stretching trousers, the combination, with a frame comprising two parts hinged or pivoted together and adapted to clamp and hold the trousers between them, of a movable bail or hanger carried by one of said parts and arranged to move into and out of engagement with the other, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a frame A, comprising a rigid back part B and a part 0, connected With the part B by coils c c, the bail or hanger D, pivotaily secured to the part B and provided With an arm to engage the part 0.

4. In tronsers-stretchers, the combination, With the clamping-frame A, made of a single piece of Wire and comprising a rear part B and front part 0, connected by coils c c, of means for holding the parts 13 0 together.

5. In combination With part B, comprising arms a a, upright b, and coils c c, the part 0, comprising arms (Z d and c, bail D, secured to upper arm a and provided at one end with an arm "5 to engage the arm e.

6. In a device for stretching trousers, the combination, with the rear frame 13, of the front frame C, hinged or pivoted to the latter, and a bail or hanger D, pivoted to frame 13 and having an arm to engage the frameO.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES F. DUHAHEL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. SHIPLEY, HORACE A. DODGE. 

